STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Seattle University softball swept a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) doubleheader at Tarleton State, winning by scores of 6-4 and 6-2 Saturday. Olivia Viggiano led with five hits, five runs, and two triples as Seattle U won its fourth straight series to open WAC play in 2021.
In the first game of the day, SU (21-18, 8-4 WAC) gradually built a 6-0 lead before Tarleton rallied to make it 6-4 after six innings. Shi Smith came on for the save chance. The Texans got an infield single to start, but Smith produced a swinging strikeout. After a walk put the tying run aboard, Smith earned another strikeout. With two outs, she got a flyball to center to close the contest and level the series.
Viggiano tripled to lead off the game. Ally Choate then drew a walk. With Carley Nance at the plate, Choate took off for second. She got in a rundown that allowed Viggiano to come in with the game's first run.
Stefanie Madrigal retired the Texans in order in each of the first two innings. In the top of the third, Viggiano singled to spark another Redhawk rally. Choate followed with a base hit. Bailey Thompson then singled to left, plating Viggiano. A Madison Cathcart RBI hit made it 3-0. Stephanie Merwin's RBI groundout expanded the lead again.
An Alyson Matriotti walk got the action started in the fourth. Viggiano then tripled again to drive in Matriotti. The three-bagger marked her NCAA-high seventh of the season. Viggiano came in to score on a passed ball to make it 6-0.
The hosts answered with a single run in the fourth, another in the fifth, and then two in the sixth to set up Smith's save.
Viggiano led with three hits, two triples, three runs, and an RBI. Choate recorded a hit, two walks, and a run, while Cathcart claimed a hit, a walk, and an RBI.
Madrigal picked up her seventh win of the season, throwing six innings and allowing three earned runs. She compiled 15 groundball outs to go with three strikeouts.
In the second game, the Texans put up a pair of runs in the first inning to gain control. Carley Nance worked around runners in the early innings, but kept Tarleton from scoring more runs. The Redhawks' offense came around in the top of the fourth, tying the game. Choate made it a full count and then singled up the middle. Thompson worked through a 10-pitch at-bat and lined a single to center. Cathcart then walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. The hosts recorded the next two outs, but Cherise Silvan went to a full count and walked to bring in a run. Pinch-hitter Taylor DeDen followed with a single to right on a 2-2 count, making it 2-all.
After Nance put down the Texans in order in the bottom of the fourth, SU put together another multi-run rally in the fifth. Viggiano walked and moved to second on a Choate sacrifice bunt. Viggiano stole third before Thompson drew a walk. With two outs, Nance lofted a single to right center to drive in a pair for a 4-2 advantage. Walks by Stephanie Merwin and Silvan loaded the bases and chased the Texan starter. Mekenzie Madokoro drew a four-pitch to plate another run to expand the margin to three.
The hosts walked twice in their half of the fifth, but Nance logged a strikeout, a flyout, and groundout to end the threat.
In the sixth, Viggiano continued to vex the Texans with another base hit. Choate singled and then the pair advanced on a wild pitch. A Thompson sacrifice fly allowed Viggiano to cross the plate for a 6-2 score.
Nance did the rest, finishing the complete-game win with six scoreless innings after the Texans' fast start. She allowed two runs and struck out six for her seventh win of the year.
Viggiano and Choate both went 2-3, as Viggiano scored twice and Choate once. Thompson and Merwin both had a hit and a walk, while Silvan walked twice.
Seattle U returns home for its final regular-season series at Logan Field. It will welcome Dixie State for three games, starting on Friday, Apr. 30.
In the first game of the day, SU (21-18, 8-4 WAC) gradually built a 6-0 lead before Tarleton rallied to make it 6-4 after six innings. Shi Smith came on for the save chance. The Texans got an infield single to start, but Smith produced a swinging strikeout. After a walk put the tying run aboard, Smith earned another strikeout. With two outs, she got a flyball to center to close the contest and level the series.
Viggiano tripled to lead off the game. Ally Choate then drew a walk. With Carley Nance at the plate, Choate took off for second. She got in a rundown that allowed Viggiano to come in with the game's first run.
Stefanie Madrigal retired the Texans in order in each of the first two innings. In the top of the third, Viggiano singled to spark another Redhawk rally. Choate followed with a base hit. Bailey Thompson then singled to left, plating Viggiano. A Madison Cathcart RBI hit made it 3-0. Stephanie Merwin's RBI groundout expanded the lead again.
An Alyson Matriotti walk got the action started in the fourth. Viggiano then tripled again to drive in Matriotti. The three-bagger marked her NCAA-high seventh of the season. Viggiano came in to score on a passed ball to make it 6-0.
The hosts answered with a single run in the fourth, another in the fifth, and then two in the sixth to set up Smith's save.
Viggiano led with three hits, two triples, three runs, and an RBI. Choate recorded a hit, two walks, and a run, while Cathcart claimed a hit, a walk, and an RBI.
Madrigal picked up her seventh win of the season, throwing six innings and allowing three earned runs. She compiled 15 groundball outs to go with three strikeouts.
In the second game, the Texans put up a pair of runs in the first inning to gain control. Carley Nance worked around runners in the early innings, but kept Tarleton from scoring more runs. The Redhawks' offense came around in the top of the fourth, tying the game. Choate made it a full count and then singled up the middle. Thompson worked through a 10-pitch at-bat and lined a single to center. Cathcart then walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. The hosts recorded the next two outs, but Cherise Silvan went to a full count and walked to bring in a run. Pinch-hitter Taylor DeDen followed with a single to right on a 2-2 count, making it 2-all.
After Nance put down the Texans in order in the bottom of the fourth, SU put together another multi-run rally in the fifth. Viggiano walked and moved to second on a Choate sacrifice bunt. Viggiano stole third before Thompson drew a walk. With two outs, Nance lofted a single to right center to drive in a pair for a 4-2 advantage. Walks by Stephanie Merwin and Silvan loaded the bases and chased the Texan starter. Mekenzie Madokoro drew a four-pitch to plate another run to expand the margin to three.
The hosts walked twice in their half of the fifth, but Nance logged a strikeout, a flyout, and groundout to end the threat.
In the sixth, Viggiano continued to vex the Texans with another base hit. Choate singled and then the pair advanced on a wild pitch. A Thompson sacrifice fly allowed Viggiano to cross the plate for a 6-2 score.
Nance did the rest, finishing the complete-game win with six scoreless innings after the Texans' fast start. She allowed two runs and struck out six for her seventh win of the year.
Viggiano and Choate both went 2-3, as Viggiano scored twice and Choate once. Thompson and Merwin both had a hit and a walk, while Silvan walked twice.
Seattle U returns home for its final regular-season series at Logan Field. It will welcome Dixie State for three games, starting on Friday, Apr. 30.